Memorable Results From City’s Development Squad Campaign

Ending 2021/22 in eighth position, the Foxes finished just four points off Arsenal in third. Following its conclusion, LCFC.com reflects on seven of the most memorable matches across the season...

After two draws on the road, followed by a heavy defeat at home to Crystal Palace, the Foxes picked up their first win of the season against Everton in September 2021. 

It was an impressive first-half performance at LCFC Training Ground which saw Jake Wakeling open the scoring inside six minutes and Tawanda Maswanhise double the advantage after the hour-half mark. 

Full-back Vontae Daley-Campbell made it three after the break, before Rhys Hughes netted a consolation in stoppage-time, the only blot on the copybook. 

Beating Leeds and West Ham United in Seagrave to add to their triumph over the Toffees, City’s home record was strong as the season reached its half-way point, but they were yet to taste victory away from home. That was a statistic the side, coached by Ben Petty, put to bed against Leeds United. 

Behind when Joe Gelhardt fired the Whites into a first-half lead at LNER Community Stadium, Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell was then shown a second yellow card just five minutes later, turning the tide in City’s favour. 

The Foxes drew level courtesy of Ethan Fitzhugh’s first Premier League 2 goal, and the midfielder added his and Leicester’s second 12 minutes later. After assisting Fitzhugh, Bayli Spencer-Adams headed in a third, his first for the Club, to seal the three points. 

A week after seeing off Brighton in Seagrave, courtesy of a stunning late strike from Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, the Foxes travelled to the capital to face top-of-the-table West Ham United. 

Undeterred by their hosts’ position, the away side broke the deadlock within two minutes of kick-off, when Josh Eppiah combined with Maswanhise, who finished from close range. 

Sonny Perkins equalised shortly after the half-hour mark, but City kept going right to the last and once again it was Marcal-Madivadua who managed to produce the winner in the last minute of normal time at Rush Green. 

After ending January with two consecutive wins, the momentum was with City entering into another tricky away trip against Everton. The visitors fell behind in challenging conditions in Southport, as Joe Anderson edged the hosts ahead.

Spencer-Adams picked out Maswanhise, who expertly tucked home the leveller, before the defender got a header on target with 13 minutes to play, and although it was later credited as an Elijah Campbell own goal, it proved to be the winner - a third success on the bounce for Petty’s upwardly-mobile Foxes.

Leicester then went four games without a victory and, although the first three of those were draws, they were keen to return to winning ways when Manchester United arrived at LCFC Training Ground. 

A scintillating first-half performance ensured City did just that. Captain Lewis Brunt kicked things off by coolly converting a 17th-minute penalty, ahead of Marcal-Madivadua slotting home the second. They were three up as quick as a flash, with Sammy Braybrooke curling in his first goal at this level. 

There were a few nervy moments after Brunt’s own goal was followed by another United strike from Shola Shoretire, but the Foxes deservedly held on. 

As the season drew towards a close, Leicester faced back-to-back games at King Power Stadium over the Easter weekend. First came a rearranged Midlands derby against Derby County, who were fighting to avoid relegation to Premier League 2 Division 2. 

Derby flipped the form book on its head by taking a sixth-minute lead via Jack Stretton, but it only lasted for three minutes. A stunning Shane Flynn strike levelled matters and it stayed that way until the closing stages. 

Maswanhise pounced on a mistake at the back, clinically finishing to hand City another three points, three days ahead of beating Blackburn on Filbert Way. 

Following a cagey opening against Blackburn Rovers, Terell Pennant’s powerful header had City in front, and a sensational free-kick from Chris Popov doubled the lead early in the second period. 

In a crazy end to the game, Thanawat Suengchitthawon came off the bench to strike a third, before Harry Leonard pulled one back for Rovers. Goalkeeper Jordan Eastham was then sent off for a foul on Popov and Brunt converted the resulting spot-kick to make it 4-1.